The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) first appeared in France in 2004, likely brought in accidentally among imported pottery from China. From there it spread rapidly across the continent, establishing itself in Spain, Italy and beyond.

The UK saw its first confirmed sighting in 2016 in Gloucestershire. Since then, the National Bee Unit has tracked dozens of nests across southern England, with numbers rising steadily in 2023 and 2024. Each year, the hornet’s ability to disperse and establish new nests makes containment more difficult.

Why they pose a threat

Vespa crabro, European Hornet. Source National Bee Unit / UK

Unlike our native European hornet (Vespa crabro), which generally avoids humans and plays a role in controlling insect populations, the Asian hornet is a serious predator of honeybees and other pollinators. A single nest can contain thousands of hornets, and each adult consumes large quantities of insect prey. Beekeepers in France have reported colonies of honeybees wiped out in days. For agriculture and food security, this matters. Pollinators are already under pressure from habitat loss, pesticides and climate change; adding an invasive predator tips the balance further.

Asian hornets are not especially aggressive towards humans unless their nest is threatened, but their sting can be painful and, in rare cases, dangerous for those allergic to wasp or bee venom. The bigger concern is ecological. A fall in pollinator numbers undermines crops, wild plants, and the wider food chain.

How to tell the difference

Sussex Wildlife Trust (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Identification is crucial. The European hornet is larger, with a yellow head, reddish-brown thorax and legs that are brown at the top and yellow at the bottom. They are noisy in flight and tend to avoid conflict.

The Asian hornet is slightly smaller. It has a velvety dark brown or black body, with a distinctive yellow or orange band near the end of the abdomen. The legs are dark with yellow tips, giving a “dipped in paint” appearance. The face is orange with darker antennae. They build large paper nests, often high in trees, but sometimes in sheds, garages or roof spaces. The nests are spherical with a small opening near the bottom.

If you see a large hornet with mostly dark colouring, yellow-tipped legs, and an orange face, it is likely an Asian hornet.

Why we should care

The UK government estimates pollinators contribute hundreds of millions of pounds to the economy through crop fertilisation each year. Losing bees to an invasive predator would drive up costs, reduce crop yields and threaten food supplies. In France, where Asian hornets are firmly established, beekeepers have suffered severe losses and the costs of nest removal run into millions annually.

For the public, awareness matters because early detection is the only chance to slow their spread. Once a nest produces new queens in autumn, those queens disperse, hibernate through the winter and establish fresh nests the following spring. One overlooked nest can create dozens more the following year.

What to do if you see one

The key advice is: do not attempt to destroy a nest yourself. Asian hornets defend aggressively and can attack in numbers if disturbed. Instead, try to take a photograph from a safe distance, note the location, and report it.

In the UK, if you think you have seen an Asian hornet, please report it using the free Asian Hornet Watch App, available for Android and iPhone, on the online notification form, or by emailing alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk. A photograph and the location of the sighting must be included. Please include your contact details so they can get in touch. Submissions are verified by experts, and authorised teams are sent to track and destroy nests. Quick reporting has led to successful nest removals in Kent, Hampshire, and elsewhere.

If you are a beekeeper, setting monitoring traps in spring and late summer can help detect queens before they spread. These must be used carefully to avoid killing native insects. Guidance is available from the National Bee Unit and beekeeping associations.

Living with the risk

The Asian hornet is unlikely to be eradicated completely in Europe, but swift action can reduce its impact in the UK. Public awareness, accurate identification, and rapid reporting are essential tools. Knowing the difference between the harmless European hornet and its invasive cousin is the first step.

The spread of the Asian hornet reminds us that biosecurity matters. A single shipping container two decades ago set off a chain of events still unfolding across the continent. In the face of climate change and global trade, invasives like the Asian hornet will continue to challenge our ecosystems. For now, vigilance is our best defence.

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The post How to spot an Asian hornet and what to do appeared first on Silver Magazine.

A quick glance online will show that the number of beekeeping courses and events has increased hugely in recent years. But how can you start your own beehive? And should you?

Although we tend to associate bees with the countryside, if you are a city dweller and have written off beekeeping as a hobby, think again. Remarkably, bees tend to do well in cities. Allotments, gardens, and rooftops are all ideal environments for beekeeping. And you may have noticed an increase in ‘urban bee’ honey in the shops.

The point is that beekeeping is potentially suitable for a lot more people than you might think.

What do you know about bees?

In the UK alone, there are over 250 different bee species. However, there is just one species of honeybee that lives in the UK called the ‘European honeybee’. These are the bees typically used in beekeeping.

Whilst we love their fluffy bums, bumblebees aren’t suitable for honey hives. There are 24 species of UK bumblebee, but in nature bumblebees live in underground cavities so cannot survive in man-made hives in the same way honeybees can. They can technically be kept in a ‘bumble bee box’ but these are extremely difficult to maintain, especially for first time beekeepers. For this reason, it is probably best to stick to standard honeybees if you are new to the world of beekeeping.

To find where you can track down European honeybees, the British Beekeepers Association website has lots of advice. Particularly helpful is the section that links you with your local experts and members – where you can share ideas and learn about the craft. It is also possible to catch a swarm yourself, but this takes experience and isn’t recommended for a beginner.

Learning about the craft

As mentioned above, there are plenty of beekeeping online courses available which can give you some insight into how to start your own beehive. It’s strongly recommended that you do some research before launching into this.

As well as the British Beekeepers website, which will help guide you and give you links to local live groups, look also for social media groups. On Facebook, for example, there is a private group – Beekeeping for Beginners UK. The more information and support you can gather, the better.

Think also about your equipment, the protective gear you need to buy and so on. Even down to the cost of things to keep your honey in. Don’t go at this without doing your homework.

And whilst I’m at it – it’s really important to ensure that where you live offers enough in the way of plants and flowers for bees to gather from. If you’re miles from anywhere that flowers grow, your bees will die. Again, lean on experienced keepers, or the Beekeepers Association for advice on this.

What kind of beehive should you have?

There are loads of different styles of beehives but the three most popular are The Langstroth, The Warre, and the Top-Bar.

The Langstroth Hive

This is the typical hive that comes to mind when you think of beekeeping. These hives are boxes with vertical hanging frames that the bees use to build their comb. The hives are easily expandable by adding new boxes on top of the existing ones. Being the most common hive means that it is easily to source and replace damaged or old components.

Pros: parts easily replaced and expandable. Also is a good option for urban beekeeping.
Cons: heavy

You can purchase a Langstroth Hive here from Bee Equipment.

The Warre Hive

If you’re looking for something lighter, the Warre Hive is quite similar to the Langstroth but smaller. They are also expandable but instead of adding new boxes on top, they are added to the bottom. As a result, despite the smaller and lighter frames, it can be heavy to move up all the boxes up when expanding. Overall, this hive is still generally considered low maintenance, making it a popular choice.

Pros: lower maintenance
Cons: heavy when expanding

You can purchase a Warre Hive here from Thorne.

The Top-Bar Hive

This one is the most aesthetically different of the three. Not only do these hives tend to be cheaper, but they are also taller, allowing for easy access. The Top-Bar is light to handle with the individual comb being lifted instead of heavy boxes. However, because of its simplistic nature it lacks the ability to expand and add more boxes. This hive style is especially appealing for first time and hobbyist beekeepers.

Pros: taller and lighter, great for beginners
Cons: not expandable

You can purchase a Top Bar Hive here from Heather Belle Honey Bees.

Expenses of beekeeping

Money

Beekeeping is not the cheapest hobby to take up by a long stretch. Money must be spent on the bees, the hive, and the equipment. The overall cost of beekeeping can be up to a whopping £1400. Cheaper beginners’ kits are also available online for around £500 not including the price of the bees themselves. For those who are patient, it is possible to source out cheaper secondhand materials.

Time

Another important factor to consider when starting beekeeping is the time that needs to be invested. It is estimated that in the first year roughly 15-30 hours must be spent caring for your bees. Keep in mind that beekeeping is a seasonal hobby, with the most work taking place in the spring and little to do in winter. At the peak in spring, an average of 5-30 minutes a week is spent with the bees. Frequent routine checks are also important to ensure there are no issues and the honey production is processing smoothly.

Finally…

DO

Do your research…
Before doing anything, check out your local laws and find out the city councils’ stance on beekeeping. In some place’s beekeeping requires a license and in certain areas its even banned.

Purchase the correct equipment…
The correct equipment is important not just for the bees but also for yourself. Remember to buy a beekeeping suit, gloves and bee smoker for your own safety.

Get involved with local bee groups…
Find other people with the same passion as you through the British Beekeeping Association  and to get involved in beekeeping courses, local events and honey selling.

DON’T

Rush into anything…
Beekeeping is a commitment that requires a fair amount of sustained work over the year. There is a level of responsibility that comes with keeping live animals and nobody needs 30,000 bee deaths on their conscience.

Expect immediate results…
Using honey for personal use in the first year is often advised against, especially if the hive was not started in Spring.

If it’s just honey you are after, there are plenty of local honey sellers to buy from. This means you get to support the bees and local beekeepers too.

For support and information – The British Beekeepers Association

Bella Currie

The post Fancy having your own honey? How to start your own beehive appeared first on Silver Magazine.